Justin Bieber Addresses Mass Shooting at Buffalo Concert: ‘Racism Is Evil’

Justin Bieber’s Justice World Tour hit Buffalo on Saturday, hours after a shooter killed 10 people at a Tops Friendly Market location in the city.

In videos the pop star shared to Instagram, Bieber spoke to both his fans and crew last night about honoring those who lost their lives at the grocery store mass shooting. 

“You guys probably heard what happened, pretty horrible stuff,” Bieber told his crew in a huddle before the performance. “But I’m looking forward to tonight, looking forward to getting on stage and doing what we do best, having a good time and bringing joy to the city, much needed.”

Speaking to the crowd on Saturday night, Bieber told the sold-out Key Bank Center that “what we’re gonna do tonight, is gonna honor those people.”

“As we know, there’s so much division in this world. So much racial injustice. As you and I both know, racism is evil and it is diabolical. But what you and I get to do, we get to be the difference makers,” he said. “We get to be the people who continue to have the conversations with our friends and our family and our loved ones. We continue to be allies.”

Bieber asked the audience to take a moment of silence during the show, per the IG clip, and while most of the crowd seemingly did so, his caption addressed those that didn’t remain silent when asked. “To the people who couldn’t stay silent to honor the lives that were so tragically lost, I urge you to ask yourself why,” Bieber wrote. 

While the name of the 18-year-old allegedly responsible for Saturday’s horrific act has been circulating online, some are trying to get another name trending—that of 55-year-old security guard Aaron Salter Jr. who confronted the gunman. The former lieutenant with the Buffalo Police Department has been praised by mayor Byron Brown for his courage, and labeled by the 716 community as a “hero.”

“The security guard that was killed did shoot and hit the suspect but it did not penetrate the body armor,” Brown told CNN early Sunday morning. “Former Buffalo Police Lieutenant Aaron Salter died a hero trying to stop the shooter and protect others in the community.”

Numerous resources have been identified by the Buffalo Community Fridge—which is no longer accepting monetary donations—for those looking to donate and support the people of Buffalo during this difficult time. See a list of those resources above.